The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-09
DEFENDING GRANTS NAME.
Mai w. c. Carroll Refutes the Charges Made
by General Boynton.


Mai w. c. Carroll Refntes the Charges Made
by General Boynton.
Baltimore Special to Chicago Times.
The American will tomorrow publish letter
from Maj. William C. Carroll, acting abide
camp to General Logan, and volunteer aid to
General Grant at Shiloh, in which general de-
NAL is made Of General Boyntons letter to tho
New \ ork Sun, with reference to Grants drinking
habits. After giving his personal experiences,
While with General Grant at Cairo and elsewhere,
ne gives the following account of the Lucas Bend
affair: During every hour of the day, and oft.
en- Tar into the night, I had occasion to be pres
ent at General Grants headquarters, and fire.
quentiy spent whole evenings dining and supping
with him until the headquarters were broken up
at Cairo, upon the movement up the Tennessee,
and never, during these more than five months,
did see, or hear from others, anything which
bordered upon imp-udence in drinking on his
part.
"Of the flag f-iruce affair at Lucas Bend on
the Mississippi, about midway between Carlo
and Columbus, which General Boynton magni-
hes into royal drunk, and in which, though he
avoids saying So be implies that General Grant
was the leading reyeer, / have this to say: 1t
was my good fortune to have been one of that
party, and l am fully prepared to deny the i'm
plcation contained in General Boyntons hear
say account of what then transpired. and al
though he generally refrains from recting the
details. because he probably did not possess
them, am constrained to indulge in some of
them to make out my case of general denial.
This prearranged meeting under flag of truce
shortly after the battle of Belmont to arrange
for an exchange of prisoners was the first in the
West IN which officers high in rank each side
were participants, and when it became known
that such a meeting would take place, the appli-
cations to accompany the party were very
merous from all classes of persons. But it was
deemed advisable to extend the privilege to a
limited number OF officers and some prominent
citizens only. Yet, somehow it was found on
the eve of departure that goudy number
on board the steamer-no doubt, some forty per-
sons, officers and civilians.
My recollection is that it was about noon
when the respective truce steamers met at the
designated rendezvous and made fast to each
other. Onr steamer was virtually under the
command of Capt. Reuben Hatch then chief
ouartermaster at Cairo a man famous at that
time for his genial nature and lavish hospitality
who didn't propose that any Kentucky or Ten
nessee confederate should Guido him in chivaric
hospitality for which they had an ante belnm
reputation. and, to cope with which he had laid
In a generous supply of llouid refreshments aud
ice, of the latter of which it known the con-
federates had long been deprived with which to
regale and cool their thirsty palates. Aceompa-
nylng Grant were his two aids, Capts. w. S.
Hilger and Clark Lagoon, Captain Rawlins being
left behind in charge of the headquarters After
lntroductons and exchange of civilitles upon
boarding their steamer, and while General Grant
proceeded to the rear cabin of their boat to con-
fer with Generals Pillow. MCGOWAN and Cheat
the one with whom the negotiations were con-
Quoted, and .lot General Chcatham, as stated by
Gen. Boynton, the other officers of the confeder-
ate party were invited aboard steamer to
partake of refreshment, which was readily ac-
cepted and generously INDUCED in. The
party on our boat was soon after joined by
Generals Cheatham and MCGOWAN, leaving
Grant and Pillow, with some staff officers of the
latter, to continue the discussion of the terms of
exchange. etc. The officers and others of the
two parties were soon gathered in knots about
the cabin, and sat the decks of the steamer
earnestly discussing the issues of the war and
good naturally banterng each other upon the
contemplated warlke achievements, ETC., all OF
which was interspersed with refreshments. which
consisted of champagne, whisky, and other
liquids, and sandwiches, etc. When acouaint-
ance and conviviality had thus ripened apace
our party was IN turn invited to repair to the
confederates' transport to partake OF their sup
ply OF vlands, which, IN the spirit of courtesy,
was of course complied with, but IS they had
only Robinson county" whisky, without ice, to
offer the session on their boat was soon adjourned
again, without dissent, to our boat the eontent s
of whose store-room were much more inviting.
Now, all this commingling, discussion and soci-
ability, lasting upward of two hours, involved
considerable king and, at length, the mellow
ing of some both parties, but if there was a
drunken man in either party didn't see him,
| and was there to see and hear all could"
In conclusion, Maj Carroll says: II trust /
have effectIally disposed of the bugaboo Gen.
| Bcynton flashes upon the credulous student OF
| history in the matter Of the Lncas Bend flag of
| truce affair, from which day, General Boynton
| declares. in relation to Grants alleged drinking
| propensites, duty was laid upon Gen. Rawlins.
| which he kept steadfastly in view and which he
| faithfully and bravely performed until the sar-
| render at Appomattox. From what TRANSFERRED
subsequently in, relation to RawllEs'S own con-
vivial indulgences during the reconnaissance in
| force in the of Columbus, KY. on the Cum
| berland. at Fort Donelson. on the Tennessee, at
| Fort Henry. during Grants suspension from
| command. and or up to the occupation of Cor
| NTH, think will be able to show how incon-
sistent and ridiculous is this illumination of the
prolific brain of the chronicler who does his
rremb bling for the safety Of the army and the
cause of the Union which conferred in the person
| of General Grant as its great commander twenty.
| five years after the shudderng was in order"
Four Persons Drowned.